Lunar Eclipse 15 April 2014

On 15 April 2014 at 07:43UT, there will be a total lunar eclipse. This eclipse is the 56th of Saros series number 122, which is composed of 75 eclipses. The duration of this lunar eclipse will be 1 hour, 17 minutes and 48 seconds.

The eclipse will be visible from both North and South America. Observers in the western Pacific miss the first half of the eclipse because it occurs before moonrise. Likewise most of Europe and Africa experience moonset just as the eclipse begins. None of the eclipse is visible from north/east Europe, eastern Africa, the Middle East or Central Asia.

(click map to enlarge)

The astrological chart below, cast for the location of Canberra, shows the event:

In all lunar eclipses, we have to take into consideration two sensitive points, namely the placement of the Moon and that of the Sun, which are opposing each other. In this case the eclipsed Moon is located in Libra, and a look at the table of Essential Dignities and Debilities shows us that she is peregrine (that is, not essentially dignified).

The Sun is in the sign of Aries, wherein he is essentially dignified by sign rulership and exaltation . This basic information already provides us with important insights into the nature of the upcoming eclipse. We are able to predict that the energy of the eclipse will most likely be rather positive.

Venus is the dispositor of the eclipsed Moon in Libra. She is essentially dignified by exaltation. Jupiter, the ruler of the third decanate of Libra, is also essentially dignified by exaltation and very prominently placed near the MC. Here we have an involvement of both, the greater, and the lesser benefic, both of which are essentially dignified. We also notice that Luna is near the fixed star Spica and Jupiter is conjunct Sirius. (see detailed map below)

William Lilly tells us in his pamphlet on the judgment of the effects of solar and lunar eclipses:

“For when the place Eclipsed, or Eclipse itself, shall be in the Ascendant, the effects shall then begin in the 1, 2, 3, and 4. moneth next after the appearance of the Eclips, …”

To find out more about the possible general effects of this eclipse, we can turn to William Lilly again. He writes in his Annus Tenebrosus, or The Dark Year, about a lunar eclipse with the Moon in the third decanate of Aries:

“… some eminent and noted person dyes; the Religious swell in every Country, and raise seditions in the Courts of Princes ”

The next step is to determine where the effects of the eclipse will be felt strongly and immediately. The general rule here is that the smaller the distance between the Sun or Moon and any of the angles, the stronger the effects of the eclipse will be. Furthermore, we can say that there is a correlation between the Ascendant, Medium Coeli or Descendant, and the time of the onset of the eclipse’s effect. If the eclipsed Moon is near the Ascendant, the effects will become noticeable after one, two, three or four months. If the eclipse is near the Medium Coeli, we will notice the effects after five, six, seven or eight months. Should the eclipse be near the Descendant, we can expect effects to occur after nine, then eleven or even twelve months. Thus, being interested in the strong and immediate effects of the eclipse, we want to find out where in the world the Moon will be close to the Ascendant during the eclipse. Looking at the world map, we see that the line of angularity for this particular lunar eclipse runs through Australia. Taking Canberra to be representative of Australia, we can see that Luna is close the Ascendant and we can therefore conclude that the expected effects will take place immediately after the eclipse.

We are also interested in the duration of the eclipse, and we find it to be one hour and 18 minutes. Lilly claims that the key to establishing the duration of a lunar eclipse’s effect is “one month for every hour”. Therefore we can conclude that this eclipse will affect us for just over one month.

To give a summary of what we have established, we can conclude that the upcoming lunar eclipse will be rather benign. Apart from Lilly’s prediction that somebody will die, we cannot find many negative pointers. This eclipse is ruled by Venus and Jupiter, which are accompanied by fortunate fixed stars. Spica conjunct Moon is interpreted to bring success, wealth and honour (particularly in connection with Mercury, Venus or Jupiter people). Sirius conjunct Jupiter promises business success, and ecclesiastical preferment, which is particularly of interest in connection with Lilly’s quote above. William Lilly writes about Venus, being eclipse ruler:

“… Venus generally in all things is like unto Jupiter, and produces such effects, with a certain kind of gracefulness; Peculiarly she gives renown unto men, honour, cheerfulness, … obedience and confirmity in Religion, … In the ayr she stirs up temperate blasts of wind, moyst and fructifying, no unpleasing weather or troublesome tempest …”

For readers, interested in the personal implications of this eclipse, it might be of interest what William Lilly has to say about this:

“… Eclipse is more dangerous or pernitious which shall be in the Horoscope or Ascendant of the birth; or which shall be in the degree Ascending in an Annuall Revolution: it portends unto the Native some ominous and mischievous action as unto his body and also in his vital substance.”

And further on:

“… who had in the Radix of his Nativity either the Sun or the Moon in that degree, or in the degree opposite … or in the like degrees … which signs are in Quadrate aspects to the former, or if the degree Culminating in any man’s Nativity was either [the degree of the eclipse or its opposite or square] or within one degree therof, the native did suffer more or less by the influence of this Eclips; according to the signification of the House of Heaven, wherein the Sun or the Moon was in at the Birth, and was either well fortified or aspected of the benevolent Planets, or ill aspected, or afflicted of the Malevolents.”

For this particular lunar eclipse that means that people with Libra or Aries rising, either in their birth chart or in their Solar Revolution for 2014, will feel the influence stronger than others. Furthermore it should be noted if natal Sun or Moon are conjunct the eclipse point and it should be investigated if Venus or Mars are particularly afflicted or located in houses six, eight, or twelve, as this might be of significance, too. If it should be the case that one or even more of these factors apply, an in-depth reading of the native’s charts may be necessary to find out which particular areas of life are likely to be affected the most.

I doubt it very much. If we cast the eclipse chart for Washington, we will see that the eclipsed Moon is in the 8th house. This means that any effect would only take place 8 or 9 months after the eclipse. As Luna is located in a succedent house, the effect would be quite weak anyway.

Hi, thanks for your work! I’m still novice in the talismanic arts and am reading through the Picatrix. I realize that Eclipses are often regarded as malefic. What of creating Talismans during an Eclipse? Do the texts mention anything about it?

It seems that the ancients would suggest creating a talisman as the moon increases in light and not at a new moon especially an eclipse.

Hi, I suppose I should be terrified by now considering the fact that I’m Libra with Aries ascendant. (October 15,1981 @ 17:48pm Istanbul, to be exact) what would you say specifically for me?
Thanks in advance!

Great article. This eclipse will hit my natal stellium in Libra – sun, moon, mars all at 21 degrees, uranus 27 degrees, midheaven 0 degrees Scorpio. Your article makes me think it won’t be that bad after all. Am I right or should I be ‘on guard’!? p.s. Venus and Pluto also in Libra at 17 and 7 degrees.

Hi Peter, I’m also strongly Aries/Libra with ascendant at 12 degrees Aries and moon at 2 degrees Libra. I assume these placements are far enough out of range not to be affected strongly by the eclipse?

Peter, we had the passing of a young woman Peaches Geldof around the eclipse (so wish it was not the case). And Australia was highlighted with the search in the Indian Ocean.
Thank you for being so humble about your brilliant gifts and sharing so openly.

Hello Peter,
I just came across your article on the Full Moon Eclipse of April 15, 2014. It is a wonderful article. I, too, have Aries rising natally at 0-1, with natal Moon at 28 Cancer (September 27, 1948 Seattle, Washington 5:45 PM). Is there any danger? Especially since the Grand Cross will hit some of my other planets. Any light you can shed will be most appreciated.
Sincerely,
Richard F

Richard, I had a quick look at your chart and I don’t think that you will feel the effects of this eclipse. The eclipsed Moon is in your 7th house, but too far away from the angle to be of much significance. Also the square to your natal Moon is a separating one, and this is the only aspect the eclipsed Moon makes. Nothing to worry about.

Hi Peter, thanks for your interesting article. In relation to the dispositor of the eclipse, do you think that contact between this dispositor and a planet in the natal chart has any significance? What does the dispositing planet do with this energy exactly? I’m curious as my sun is 10 pisces and conjunct the dispositor. Other than that, the eclipse occurs in my 4th house square my 25 cancer ascendant.

Ellie, we have to take the nature of the dispositor into account, as well as its strength. Venus is the Lesser Benefic and she is essentially dignified by exaltation. Therefore I would say that the conjunction to your Sun will be rather a blessing than a curse. With a 4th house placement, good things should come to you in connection with real estate, immoveable goods, or even via your ancestors (inheritance). It also shows the “end of the matter”, so perhaps something comes to and end and something new will begin after the eclipse.